March 29--MESA, Ariz. -- Despite the impressive credentials of Jeff Samardzija, the Chicago Cubs didn't announce that he was going to be their opening day starter last season until spring training was virtually complete.
Part of that was due to the uncertainty of the status of Samardzija, who was eventually traded to the Oakland Athletics on July 5.
The Cubs have been clear in stating that left-hander Jon Lester will start the April 5 opener against the St. Louis Cardinals as long as his left arm rebounds well after a minor league game on Tuesday.
The Cubs haven't announced the alignment regarding the rest of their rotation, although Jake Arrieta might have revealed some information after pitching four scoreless innings in an 18-4 win over the Colorado Rockies in a split squad game at Sloan Park.
Arrieta has been following Jason Hammel in the spring rotation, but that could change once the regular season starts.
"I think I'm throwing Game 2," Arrieta said.
That would be on April 7 -- ahead of Hammel. But the Cubs appear to be keeping Arrieta on a normal schedule since April 6 serves as a day off.
"That's why it's bounced around a little bit. But as far as the numbers are concerned, rotation-wise, we got guys who can win at a high level."
Arrieta said he learned from Hammel during the 2012 season, when Arrieta struggled while Hammel battled from injuries to help the Baltimore Orioles to the American League playoffs.
"I use a lot of what he did from that year and incorporated it into the way I pitch," Arrieta said. "(Kyle) Hendricks, he's the professor. He's a bright kid beyond his years and fun to watch pitch. He's a surgeon. Miggie (Montero) has alluded to that. He picks guys apart and changes speeds."
The number of pitching candidates was trimmed when left-hander Eric Jokisch was optioned to Triple-A Iowa, and left-hander Felix Doubront was given his unconditional release.
Jokisch will start Tuesday against the Texas Rangers in Surprise. Doubront will receive about $473,000 in termination pay, with the Cubs saving around $1.5 million by cutting him before the start of the regular season.
